How to replace the icons of applications on Xiaomi with your photos: 5 working ways

Why Xiaomi Standard Icons Are Irritating and How to Change Them

Are you tired of the monotonous square icons of MIUI that look like clones of each other? Or want to make the screen of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 or Mi 11 Ultra unique by replacing the icons of the applications with personal photos, memes or art in the style of Material You? Unfortunately, the regular settings of MIUI do not allow you to simply change the icon of any application - but there are workarounds.

In this article, we will discuss 5 proven ways to replace icons, from simple (through launchers and themes) to advanced (using ADB and modified APKs). Each method works on current versions of MIUI 14/15 and does not require root access. You will only need your photos (preferably in.png format with a transparent background) and 10-30 minutes of time.

⚠️ Important: Some methods may reset after an update MIUI We'll flag these cases and tell you how to avoid them.

Method 1: Using third-party launchers (the easiest method)

If you need to change your icons quickly and safely, Google Play launchers are the perfect solution: they do not require superuser rights, work on any Xiaomi model (including the POCO F5 and Redmi 10C), and allow you to customize not only icons, but also animations, gestures, folders.

The best launchers for customizing icons:

• 🎨 Nova Launcher supports adaptive icons, icon packs and manual replacement with long-pressing. There is a free version with basic features.
• 🖼️ Apex Launcher - allows you to assign your images to each application separately. Supports backup of settings.
• 🔄 Lawnchair – an open launcher with support for Android 12+ Style and dynamic icons, lightweight and unadvertised.
• 🌈 Smart Launcher 6 – automatically selects the color of the icons under the wallpaper, but also allows you to replace them manually.

How to change the icon with Nova Launcher:

1. Install the launcher from Google Play and select it as the default launcher.
2. Long click on the app icon → Change → Edit.
3. Click on the icon → select Gallery or File Manager → enter your photo.
4. Confirm the change.

Make sure that MIUI settings allow installation from unknown sources (Settings → Applications → Special Rights → Install Unknown Applications)

Download icons in.png format with transparent background (recommended size: 192×192 px)

Back up your current icon location (in Nova Launcher, this is done via Backup/Restore)

Turn off battery optimization for launcher (Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization → All apps → Nova Launcher → No restrictions)

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⚠️ Attention: After update MIUI The launcher can reset to the standard. MIUI Go to Settings. → Home. → Default launcher and select again Nova/Apex.

Nova Launcher

Apex Launcher

Lawnchair

Smart Launcher 6

Standard MIUI

Other-->

Method 2: Replace icons with MIUI themes (no root)

MIUI has a built-in theme system that allows you to change not only wallpaper and fonts, but also icons. But here's the caveat: you can't assign random photos for each application, just install a ready-made package of icons from the theme store, but the method works without third-party programs and does not require technical skills.

How to replace icons with themes:

1. Open the Themes app (icon with brush).
2. Go to the Icons section (installation at the bottom).
3. Choose your favorite package (e.g. Minimal UI, Flatcons or Droidian).
4. Click Apply. Icons will change globally for all supported applications.

If you need to replace an icon for a particular app instead of all of them, this is not the right way, but you can combine it with launchers, like installing a theme with minimalist icons, and then replacing individual icons with your photos in Nova Launcher.

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If the theme store doesn’t have a suitable icon package, try downloading a.mtz theme file from sites like MIUI Themes and installing it manually through Themes → Profile → Import.

Method 3: Manually modifying icons via ADB (for advanced)

If you need to completely replace standard system application icons (such as Phone, Messages, or Camera) with your photos without using launchers, you will need to use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which works on MIUI 12-15, but requires connecting your smartphone to a PC.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB-driver.
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on Xiaomi (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times press to unlock Developer Settings → set up USB).
• 🖼️ Your icons in.png format (size) 108×108 px MIUI, clear-back).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your smartphone to your PC and confirm the debugging permission.
2. Open the command prompt (cmd) in the folder with adb.exe.
3. Enter the command to backup the original icons: adb backup -f backup.ab -apk -obb -shared com.miui.home (A backup request will appear on the smartphone - confirm it, do not set a password.)
4. Download the archive with a backup on your PC and extract the file from it icon_pack.xml (use ABE).
5. Edit it. icon_pack.xml, replacing the paths to standard icons with your own (files should be in the /data/local/icon_pack/ device-wise).
6. Download the modified files back: adb push your icon.png /data/local/icon_pack/ adb shell am broadcast -a android.intent.action.BOOT_COMPLETED
7. Reboot your smartphone.

⚠️ Attention: incorrect editing icon_pack.xml Could cause a launcher to fail MIUI. Before experimenting, make sure to back up via adb backup or MIUI Backup (Settings) → Additionally. → Backup and reset).

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The ADB method is suitable for replacing system application icons (Calls, Contacts, Settings) that don’t normally change through launchers. For third-party applications (WhatsApp, Telegram), it’s easier to use Nova Launcher.

Method 4: Modification of APK applications (for enthusiasts)

This method is suitable for those who are ready to dive into reverse development and have experience with the development of the APK-The idea is to unpack the app, replace the icons in its resources and re-build it, even on Xiaomi without root, but it requires caution.

The tools you will need:

• 🛠️ Apktool – for decompilation and assembly APK.
• 🖌️ GIMP Photoshop – for editing icons.
• 📦 APK Installer – to install a modified file.

Step-by-step process:

1. Download the APK of the application you want to replace (for example, via APKCombo or APKPure).
2. Unpack it with Apktool: apktool d your apk.apk -o output_folder
3. Go to the folder. output_folder/res/ Find the icons (usually in the drawable-xxxhdpi/ or mipmap-xxxhdpi/).
4. Replace the icon files (ic_launcher.png, ic_launcher_round.png etc.) in their own, retaining the original names and sizes.
5. Gather it. APK back: apktool b output_folder -o modified.apk
6. Sign the file (use Uber APK Signer).
7. Install the modified APK on your smartphone (pre-deleting the original app).

⚠️ Attention: modified APK may:

• 🚫 Do not update through Google Play (you will have to repeat the process after each update).
• 🛡️ Call security alerts (e.g. Play Protect may block installation).
• 🔄 Reset after resetting settings or updating MIUI.

adb install -r -d --fastdeploy modified.apk

This requires an unlocked bootloader (unlocked bootloader).-->

Method 5: Use Xposed/EdXposed (root only)

If your Xiaomi has an unlocked bootloader and root rights, you can use Xposed or EdXposed modules to deeply customize icons. This method allows you to change the icons of any application, including system ones, without modifying the APK.

Required components:

• 🔓 Unlocked bootloader and installed Magisk (instructions for Xiaomi: XDA Developers).
• 🧩 Module MIUI Theme Editor or EdXposed.
• 🖼️ Your icons in.png format (recommended size: 192×192 px).

Instructions for EdXposed:

1. Install EdXposed via Magisk and restart your smartphone.
2. Download the Iconify or XIconChanger module from the Xposed repository.
3. Open the module, select the application → Change Icon → enter your photo.
4. Activate the changes and restart the device.

Advantages of the method:

• ✅ It works for all applications, including system.
• ✅ No reconfiguration after updates (if the module is compatible with the new version) MIUI).
• ✅ You can change icons on the fly without reinstalling applications.

⚠️ Attention: use Xposed/EdXposed maybe:

• 🚨 Lead to bootloop ( looped boot) if the module is incompatible with your version MIUI.
• 🔒 Disrupt Google Pay, Netflix and other apps that check SafetyNet.
• 🔄 Require reconfiguration after major updates MIUI.

Comparison of all methods: which one to choose?

To make it easier for you to determine, we have collected the key features of each method in one table:

Selection recommendations:

• 👍 If you need to be quick and risk-free, use Nova Launcher or themes. MIUI.
• 🔧 If you want to replace the icons of system applications (Calls, Messages) - try it. ADB.
• 🛠️ If you have root and experience, EdXposed will give you the most flexibility.
• 🚫 If you are a beginner, don’t modify it. APK System applications (risk is high!).

Frequent problems and their solutions

When replacing icons with Xiaomi, users face typical errors, and we have collected the most common ways to fix them:

Problem 1: After replacing the icons through ADB, they reset to the standard ones.

⚠️ Solution: This is due to the update of the com.miui.home application (launcher) MIUI). To fix changes: Turn off automatic updates MIUI Home in Google Play. Use the command to block updates: adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.home (⚠️ This will disable the launcher updates completely!)

Problem 2: Nova Launcher does not display the "Change Icon" option.

⚠️ Solution: Make sure: You are using the Prime version of Nova Launcher (free version limited). Launcher settings include the option to Allow Change of Icons (Nova Settings) → Icons → Allow changing icons).

Problem 3: After the APK modification, the application is not installed.

⚠️ Solution: Check: Is it signed APK After assembly (use Uber) APK Signer: Does the version of the code match the original application (if not, increase it to the original version) AndroidManifest.xml). Are critical files deleted (e.g. classes.dex).

Problem 4: Icons look blurry or incorrectly sized.

⚠️ Solution: Optimal sizes of icons for MIUI: 48×48 px for folders and widgets. 108×108 px – for adaptive icons (recommended). 192×192 px – for high resolution (e.g., Xiaomi) 13 Use Icon Experience or Flaticon to find ready-made icons.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions